Right Decision for Queensland

BAC CEO and Managing Director Julieanne Alroe said placing a curfew on Brisbane Airport would have closed the State’s front door every night, damaging the tourism industry and limiting Queensland’s economic growth.

“This is the right decision for Queensland,” she said.

Ms Alroe said BAC would not only meet all of the Commonwealth’s recommended aircraft noise mitigation targets, but intended to exceed them.

“We take very seriously the need to minimise the impact of aircraft noise on the Brisbane community. It is a very high priority and we will continue to lead the country in working with airlines, AirServices Australia and the community to find new ways to manage noise impacts.

“Brisbane is very lucky to have an airport that is so close to the city but whose operations have also been protected by wise planning decisions by city, state and federal planners over the decades.

“This has meant that we have fewer people living under flight paths than most other cities, and have the largest non-residential buffer of any capital city airport in the country.”

Ms Alroe said the review of Brisbane Airport’s 24 hour operations had shown that an overnight curfew would not address the majority of noise complaints – most of which occur in the evening and morning hours.

“A curfew would simply have pushed more traffic into those hours,” Ms Alroe said. “The long term solution to overnight aircraft noise is our New Parallel Runway, which will provide Air Traffic Control with the option of directing all incoming and outbound aircraft over the bay during the night-time hours.

“We are investing more than $1.3 billion in building the runway and after it is operational, in 2020, we expect that those who are currently experiencing over-night aircraft over their homes will notice the difference.”